Bruce McHugh, chairman of the Sydney Turf Club, last month filed suit against the Australian Jockey Club, the Victorian Racing Club, and the Australian Racing Board on the grounds that requiring live covers for Thoroughbreds is restraint of trade.

The 2010 breeding season in the Northern Hemisphere will not be affected by this because the decision is not expected for six to 12 months, but an early decision could have a radical result on the 2010 Southern Hemisphere breeding season if the decision comes in favor of McHugh’s complaint.

A ruling in favor of McHugh’s complaint would allow the use of artificial insemination in the production of Thoroughbreds, and such a change in the rules would have international implications for breeding and racing.

If AI becomes accepted in Australia, it would be the only country (of 69) in the International Federation of Horseracing to allow AI. But it would not be the last.

The expense and potential for massive losses through disease or accidents would almost certainly move other countries to follow suit if Australia becomes the test case for this red-hot issue.

If McHugh’s case succeeds and AI is allowed in Australia, Northern Hemisphere farms with shuttle stallions would have to decide whether or not to ship their horses — at considerable risk and expense — and accept the further complication of deciding whether the foals from those breedings (if AI or potentially AI) would be registered elsewhere.

A further complication would arise because Thoroughbreds bred by AI would not be distinguishable from those bred by live cover. So how could Jockey Clubs in other jurisdictions accept the horses from Australia, which might or might not be bred on AI, and refuse to allow AI in their stock bred at home?

These questions are only touching the tip of a massive iceberg lying submerged under the surface of this issue that goes to the heart of the politics, power, and money in Thoroughbred racing and breeding.

If AI is approved, it will end the thoroughbred industry as we know it. Take a look at the Quarter horse and Standardbred industry! IF AI were ever approved in the states, we would sell our farm and find another way to make a living. This would destroy van companies, vets, boarding farms, new stallions to stud, etc. There is no way that I would have moved (or live) to Ky without the need for the best stock to be here. I hope that this suit gets thrown out of court otherwise everyone will breed to the same 12 stallions in Ky and that is about it.

You got it, Carrie! AI would be a croc’s death roll to the economics of the industry as it currently sits.

The geniuses in Frankfort are trying to do the same through malignant neglect, but AI would be revolution from within.

The Aussies may well rule in favor of McHugh. He’s wealthy and well-connected, and he would not have gone to law if he didn’t feel he had a case to argue. That said, it might or might not spread to the US. But the aggravation would land in the JC’s lap for sure.

Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Perfect example of not learning anything by experience. The solution is of course, not to allow the registration of A.I. Australian whatever breds on an international level.

Too many Quarterhorses wind up in Mexican Tacos or as Canadian Bacon already. This will only make a bad situation with Thoroughbreds, intolerable.

in truth, breeding has always been about business. even billionaires take the economics into consideration. and breeding is the portion of our involvement with the Thoroughbred that ai would impact. AI might even be good for racing … what with 500 Dynaformers, Storm Cats, Pulpits, etc. potentially each year. the other considerations are where we find the most obvious drawbacks. but AI might come, no matter whether it is best or not. are we prepared?

AI will not destroy the industry, AI has been going on in the Standardbred Industry for over a decade with no negative issues. In fact, well over 50% of all Standardbred breeding in Australia is done by AI with no ill effects on the horses or the industry.

Many breed societies now have AI for some time, including the WPCS which has international affiliates world wide and there are no issues, DNA testing proves who the horse really is.

You only need to do things properly and they will work well.

For Australia the benefits are massive, we don’t have to import shuttle TB stallions that like a couple of years ago cause massive outbreak of EI. We would like to stay EI free in Australia thank you very much. AI within the TB industry will help us maintain this status. The cost of EI to Australia was in the millions. To vaccinate, it would destroy the industry, where in Australia every day people can still afford to own a horse. The vaccination costs hundreds here and would destroy the leisure industry and kill off the pony clubs.

AI is not cloning, it is just another way to impregnate a mare. They are not even remotely related. How do you compare them ?

I find the arguments against AI amusing, do you really think that what happens with mares and stallions in the TB breeding industry currently is in any way Natural?

In fact TB registration rules do technically allow AI, providing of course that the stallion has covered a mare you can collect any residue and inseminate her. Maybe that is why a lot of AI equipment is purchased by TB breeders????

All it needs is a bit forethought on the part of the establishment and there would be NO threat at all to the gene pool, you just limit “coverings” in fact it would open up the gene pool without the stupidity of flying valuable bloodstock round the world and exposing them to stress and disease.

Having used frozen regularly in my own breed I would not have it any other way, I can use the best in the world for that mare for the cost of postage and a trip down the road to the AI centre. I cannot fathom sending a mare overseas at a considerable risk!

So the studs currently taking walk ins etc. would just need to turn their hand to insemination instead of live cover at considerably less risk and stress to all concerned.

You would also extend a stallions working life in that several doses are available from one collection, so he would not be covering 100 plus mares per season and providing the correct testing is in place the risk of spreading disease is considerably reduced to a negligible risk. For lower market stallions you could also open up some breeding’s to the sport horse industry increasing that horses potential at stud. And wouldn’t it be nice to see your expensive foals grow up with just a short trip to the AI centre nearby or even have the vet visit you!

Well if it’s good enough for Storm Cat!!!

The sport horse industry would collapse without AI; it’s by far the most common method of breeding in that sphere and has been for years; in fact now embryo transfer is becoming far more affordable and the techniques are most successful, why the fuss??

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